Mechanism to facilitate the turning of the pages of a book



P 16, 1952 r M. ROMANIUK 2,610,434

MECHANISM TO FACILITATE THE TURNING OF THE PAGES OF A BOOK Filed March 1'7, 1950 3 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Fly,

IN V EN TOR.

M/RKO ROMAN/UK Sept. 6, 1952 M. ROMANIUK 2,610,434

MECHANISM TO FACILITATE THE TURNING OF THE PAGES OF A'BOOK Filed March 17, 1950 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MIR/(0 ROMAN/UK Sept. 16, 1952 ROMANlUK 2,610,434-

MECHANISM TO FACILITATE THE TURNING OF THE PAGES OF A BOOK Filed March 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR. MIR/(0 ROMAN/UK Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEGHAN ISM TO FACILITATE THE TURNING OF THE PAGES OF A BOOK Mirko Romaniuk, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 17, 1950, Serial No. 150,330

'1 Claims. 1

. This invention relates to a mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book.

An object of the invention is to provide for holding a book in a forwardly tilted position with the open pages of the book facing generally downwardly and defining a reading tilted angle with respect to the vertical whereby a person positioned beneath the book may read the book by looking generally upward toward the book.

Another object of the invention is to provide a book holder having means for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book.

Another object of the invention is the provision of two spaced surface means between which a book may be held in readable position, taken in combination with the mechanism for facilitating the separating of the two surface means whereby the top one of the turnable pages may be turned while said two spaced surface means are separated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book.

Another object of the invention is the provision of holding the open pages of a book in readable position for supporting the open pages of the book upon a surface holding means and of separating the book from the surface holding means for turning the pages therein after which the book is re-supported on the surface holding means.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a picture view of a book holding means holding a book in reading position for a person lying down;

Figure 2 illustrates'a person turning a page in the book after which time the ,book will be returned to the position of Figure 1; s

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a book holder having mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book;

Figure 4 is an end view illustrating the book holder in reading position; as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end view with the book holder surfaces separated whereby a page may be turned in the book; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged front view showing the pivotal mounting of the surface means on one end thereof.

The book holder illustrated anddescribed herein comprises a book holder structure I0 mounted on a base II. Thebook holder structure III has incorporated therein mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of the book, thus the book holding structure III has a page engageable surface means I2 and a book back engageable surface means I3. The page engageable surface means I2 in this instance is a cross member mounted on an angularly adjustable frame work I4. The page engageable surface means [2 is normally positioned at an angle relative to the vertical whereby a book held in the book holding structure I0 will lie against the page engageable surface means I2 with the open pages facing generally downwardly so that a person in an inclined position may look generally upwardly to read the pages.

The frame work I4 is constructed of a pair of spaced base members I5 adapted to be secured to the base I I and end members IB which are pivotally mounted on the base members I5 by screws I! or any other suitable means. member 18 pivotally mounted on the base member I5 at a distance from the screw l1 and adjustably fastenable to the end member It by bolts [9 provides for the angular adjustment of the end members I6 relative to their base members I5. It is understood that the structure on both ends of the book holding device is substantially the same and that generally equivalent parts are found on each end.

The page engageable surface I2, which, in the present disclosure, is in the form of a member designated by the same character I2, extends between the end members I6 and is positioned at a distance from the screws H which locate the pivotal mounting of the end member I6 on the base members I5. There is provided a clamping means such as bolts and nuts 20 for tightening the page engageable surface member l2 to the end members I6 at the desired position. After the adjustment member I8 and the nuts 20 have been properly adjusted so that a book held in the holding device will lie under its own weight against the page engageable surface I2, these adjustments remain fixed until another book of different size is to be positioned in the book holding structure.

Pivotally mounted on the end members It and extending therebetween is a book shelf 2| having the ends 22 thereof bent upwardly and provided with slots 23. This shelf 2| is pivotally mounted between the end members I 6 at substantially right angles to the plane of the pages engageable surface I2. In this particular instance, the book. shelf 2| is pivotally mounted by the mountings I! which pivotally or adjustably mount the ends It on the base members I5.

An adj ustable The slots 23 in the upturned ends 22 of the shelf, however, are positioned in planes substantially parallel to the page engageable surface I2 and are adapted to receive the book back engageable surface member l3, which bears the same number as the back engageable surface I3. It is noted that slots 23 are provided in each end 22 of the shelf, whereby the back engageable surface I 3 may be positioned in parallel planes at various distances from'the page engageable surface means I2. When a thick book is inserted in the book holding structure It, the back engageable surface 13 is positioned in slots 23 at a distance further from the page engageable'surface i2 than when a thin book is inserted in the book holding structure.

In Figure 4. of the drawings, the 'backengage able surface member 13 is positioned in the slots 23 for a thick book. In this view the book holding structure is in reading position whereby a book being held therein could be'r'ead by'a personlooking generally upwardly as in Figurel. In Figures 2 and 5, of the drawings, the shelf :21 has been pivoted or angularly moved whereby the back engageable surface member 53 has passed through a vertical plane and is at a slight'a'ngle'to the vertical plane. In this position the surfaces 12 and i3 have been separated whereby the page in the book may be turned by hand as illustrated in Figure 2.

It'has been found advisable to hi-ngedly' mount a redid along the forward edge of the shelf 2i. This rod '25 is disposed at a distance above the shelf 2| and in the plane of the page engageable surface i2 so that-it can engage the pages of the hook'along 'thebottom thereof. Hinges E'S hinge ly support the rod "25 on the shelf 21/ These hinges 26 may be of the spring'hinge type-having springs 2-? whereby the "rod 25 is normally held against the ends 22 of the shelfeiin {the plane-of the pageengagement surface i2. While the-book is lying with the pagesagainst't-he page-engageable surface t2, the springs 23 urgethe rod 25 towards the back engageable surface it and thus press it against the pages of the'book.

When the page in the book is to be turned, the book is movedawayfrom the page engagea-ble surface l2. At the same time, the rod 2-35 is hingedly moved relative to the shelf and against the urging of the springs 2-l=away from the pages of the book. The rod '25 has a length greater than the length-of the shelf 2i and greater-than the spacing between the base members 5 of'the book holding structure 1' i3. 'The'base members it are also provided with extension portions which are engageable by these ends'of the rod 25. As the shelf 2! movesbetweenthe'basemembers i5, the'extended ends of the rod 25 engage the extension portions 28 of the base member 'f'S to hingedly move the rod i5 relative tot-he shelf "2 i. This movement of the rod 25 against the urging of the springs 27 is best 'illustrate'din Figures 4 and 5 and especially in Figure '5 where the ends of the rod 25 are abutting the extension portions 28 of the base members It. V

In operating 'the book holding structure and especially the mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pagesoi a book, a book is placed in the book holding structure It) with theopen pages thereof lying against the page engagement surface 12 and the rod 25. The lower'e'dge' of the book rests on the shelf 2i. Next the back engagement surface member [3 .is placed inccirrect slots 23 "in the'upturn'ed en'dsof the-shelf 22. In this position the book is facing generally downwardly and at an inclined angle other than vertical. When a page in the book is to be turned, the person reading the book simply pushes against the page in an upward direction, thus angularly moving the book from the position of Figure 1 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The rod 25 during this movement of the book has been moved away from the page by means of the ends of the rod engaging the extension portions 28 of the base members it, as illustrated in Figure 5. When the book is angularly moved to the position as illustrated in Figure 5, the page engageable surface means and the back engageable surface-means have been separated. After the page in the book has been turned, the reader or person may simply release the book. The spring 2? in urging the rod '25 towards the back engageable surface it, and thus against the extension portion 28, will move the shelf and the book to the readable position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

It is understood, however, that the person reading the book may hold his hand against the open pages of the book to return the book forward slowly against the page engageable surface 12.

When the hook is in open readable position, it is positioned between the surfaces 12 and [3 with the back cover of the open book-next adjacent the back engageable surface Bend the open pages of the book next adjacent the page 'engageable surface I 2. Upon movement of the surface means i2 and -l 3 apart or to the'separated positions with the back cover of the book retained against the back engageabiesu'rface 13, there is provided clearance space relative to the page engageable surface 3! 2 for the top one 'o'fythe turnable pages of-the bookto be turned.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of par ticul'arity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has'been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination andarrangement of parts maybe resorted tov without departing from the spirit and the scop of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

"What isclaiined is: V

'1. "Mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a frame, book-- holding means having first meansand second means, said second means being fixedly-carried by saidframe at an acute angle to the vertical, said first means being hinged relative to said second meansso that an open'bookrnay be-placed in a readable position {with the-back cover ofthe open book positionable next adjacent the first means and with the open pages offthe-book positionable next adjacent the secondrmeans inga downwardly tilting position, said first means being hingedly separable from said 'secfl id "means thereby providing -clearance space relative to the second means for'tl e-exposed one o'fth'e turnable pages of the-book to be turned. V i

2. Mechanism for faciiita tingwhe turning of the pages of aboolgcornrirising, a frame, been, holdiimrneans carried by said frame and having fu'st surface rneans and second'su'rfa'ce means between which an open book may be placed in a readable position, said first surface means facing downwardly and said second surface means facing upwardly, theback cover of the open book positionable nest adjacent and "below the first surface means and with the open pages of the boo-k resting -on the second 1 surface means,

and said first su U emeansfbeinghingedlvsep arable from-said second surface means thereby providing clearance space relative to the second surface means for the exposed turnable pages of the book to be turned, said second surface means having spaced surfaces with an open area therebetween whereby the exposed pages of the book may be read looking upwardly through said open area.

3. Mechanism for facilitating the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a frame, bookholding means having first means and second means, said second means being adjustably securable to said frame at an acute angle to the vertical and with a page engaging surface on the upper side thereof, said first and second means being spaced apart to receive an open book'in a readable position with the back cover of the open book positionable next adjacent and below the first means and with the open pages of the book resting on the upwardly facing page engaging surface of thesecond means, and said first means being movable upwardly from said second means, thereby providing clearance space relative to the second means for the exposed pages of the book to be. turned.

4. Mechanism to facilitate the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a base member, a

front member having page engaging surface means and adjustably carried by said base memher, said front member being adjustable to a plane at an acute angle to the vertical with the surface means On the upper side thereof, bookholding means pivotally mounted to said. base member and including a bottom shelf and book cover engaging means, said book-holding means being pivotable through an acute angle from a reading position to a page turning position, said reading position establishing said book cover engaging means substantially parallel to and spaced from the plane of said front member, and said page turning position establishing said book cover engaging means at an acute angle to the plane of said front member.

5. Mechanism to facilitate the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a base member, two laterally spaced adjustable frame members, a front member having page engaging surface means and adjustably carried by said two frame members, said frame members being adjustable to dispose said front member in a plane at an acute angle to the vertical with the surface means on the upper side thereof, book-holding means I pivotally mounted between said two frame members and including a bottom shelf and book cover engaging means substantially mutually perpen dicular, said book-holding means being pivotable through'an acute angle from a reading position to a page turning position, said reading position establishing said book cover engaging means substantially parallel to and spaced from the plane of said front member, said page turning position establishing said book cover engaging means at an acute angle to and on the opposite side of vertical from the plane of said front member, 7

and spring means pivotally urging said book cover engaging means from said page turning position to said reading position.

6. Mechanism to facilitate the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a base member, two laterally spaced adjustable frame members, a front member having page engaging surface means and adjustably carried by said two frame members, said frame members being adjustable to dispose said front member in one of a number of planes at an acute angle to the vertical with the surface means on the upper side thereof, book-holding means pivotally mounted between said two frame members and including a bottom shelf and book cover engaging means substantially =mutua11y perpendicular, said book-holding means being pivotabl through an acute angle from a reading position to a page turning position, said reading position establishing said book cover engaging means substantially parallel to and spaced from the plane of said front member, said page turning position establishing said book cover engaging means at an acute angle to and on the opposite side of vertical from the plane 'of said front member, a window in said front member to permit viewing the open pages of a book in said book-holding means, a rod pivotally carried by said bottom shelf, cam means carried by said two frame members engageable by said rod when said book-holding means is in said page turning position to separate said rod and said book cover engaging means, and spring means pivotally urging said rod toward said book cover engaging means, said page turning position stressing said spring means so that said book holdingv means is urged toward said reading position.

' 7. Mechanism to facilitate the turning of the pages of a book, comprising, a base member, two laterally spaced adjustable frame members, a front member having page engaging surface means and adjustably carried by said two frame members, said frame members being adjustable to dispose said front member in one of a number of planes at an acute angle to the vertical with the surface means on the upper side thereof, book-holding means pivotally mounted between said two frame members and including a bottom shelf and book cover engaging means substantially mutually perpendicular, said book-holding means being pivotable through an acute angle from a reading position to a page turning position, said reading position establishing said hook cover engaging means substantially parallel to and spaced from the plane of said front member, said page turning position establishing said book cover engaging means atan acute angle to and on the opposite side of vertical from the plane of said front member, a window in said front member to permit viewing the open pages of a book in said book-holding means, a rod pivotally carried by said bottom shelf, cam means carried by said two frame members engageable by said rod and cooperating therewith to separate said rod and said book cover engaging means when said book holding means is in said page turning position.

MIRKO ROMANIUK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 550,289 Platt Nov. 26,1895 1,849,990 Otsuki Mar. 15, 1932 2,302,806 Senter Nov. 24, 1942 2,386,576 Solberg Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,836 Great Britain 1892 

